Rescue balloon



May 7, 1963 o. G. Rozzn-:LLE 3,381,655

RESCUE BALLOON Filed July 7, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

May 7, 1968 D. s. Rozzr-:LLE

RESCUE BALLOON Sheets-Sheet 1';

Filed July 7, 1966 I I I immuni Fig2 @wm/a7 mvENToR. @owzzelle BY @ZM/4?QZ,

Figa 4 A TTORNEY rMay 7, 1968 D. G. RozzELLE 3,381,555

RESCUE BALLOQN Filed .my v, 196e 4 sheets-sheer a llllillllllr '6 62 63gaf el H "6 T 1' mvENroR.

@wm/d @JT/P022 elle Figa@ I ATTORNEY.`

United States Patent Office 3,381,655 Patented May 7, 1968 3,381,655RESCUE BALLOON Donald G. Rozzelle, 349 S. Ursula, Aurora, Colo. 80010Filed July 7, 1966, Ser.' No. 563,581 6 Claims. (Cl. 116-124) ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE A complete rescueballoon assembly includes a gas tankhaving a valve assembly simply actuated by tightening two parts -of ltheValve together. A frangible connector in the valve asse-mbly permits afilled balloon to be severed from the tank and means associated with theballoon retains the gas therein. An anchor line connected to the balloonat one end and the 4tank at the other end permits the balloon to rise,tethered to the tank.

This invention relates to a lighter-than-air distress signal balloonwhich is initially arranged in a small, lightweight package and has aneasy and quick release of the balloon when necessary.

In the past many different -types of signal or rescue balloons have beenproposed, each utilizing the basic concept of providing an unfilledballoon and a container of gas, means for filling the -balloon with thegas, and means for anchoring the balloon as it lioats in the air. Themost successful units have been those which were secured as part of thesurvival kit for naval aviators or other aviators who frequently ew overlarge bodies of water. Little consideration for size and weight wasnecessary for the kit as it was stowed in the collapsible survival boatas part of the survival gear, and, of course, the aviators were highlytrained in the operation of all parts of the survival gear. Many downediiers in the water have been rescued because of, at least partially,such rescue balloons. Other proposed signal balloons have been far toobulky and heavy for use by hikers, particularly small children, or theirmechanism has been so complicated that a person, lost in -a wildernessarea, being greatly distressed and disturbed is unable -to operate themechanism to till and release the balloon. Un-der such conditions manypersons are unable to comprehend extensive written instructions so theyfail to operate the mechanism. Particularly small children have beenunable to oper-ate the mechanisms of the devices heretofore proposed inthe prior art.

According to the presen-t invention, I have provided a signal balloonkit which is very easily operated, is light and is contained in a verysmall package. Most important the unit has a very long shelf life, thatis, it may be stored in its packaged condition for long periods of time`and is still operable. Since the usual gas for the lighter-than-airrescue balloons is helium, extra precautions must be taken to preventleakage of the helium from the storage tank. My device incorporates aneasily broken seal, which when in position prevents accidental actuationof the balloon filling valve and release of the gas, but which can stillbe broken even by a small child for the purpose of actuating themechanism to ill the signal balloon. In addition, the motions necessaryto actuate the valve for filling the balloon are very simple, requiringonly finger pressure to break the seal and a twist of the wrist. Therelease mechanism for the filled balloon is accomplished by breaking thevalve body between the -balloon and the tank by a very nominal pressurewhich releases the rescue balloon from the tank. The balloon is, ofcourse, anchored by means of a line to the tank to prevent its escapeand loss of value as a signal balloon.

Included among the objects and advantages of the present invention is asmall lightweight kit containing an inflatable signal or rescue balloonwhich has a long shelf life and is economical to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a removable seal for avalve which effectively prevents actuation of the valve but is easilybroken and removed for subsequent actuation of the valve.

A further object of the invention is to provide a frangible valvemechanism which permits filling a signal or rescue balloon from a tankand then a quick positive release of the balloon from the tank.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a signal or rescueballoon kit which is simply and easily actuated for releasing the valvemechanism, filling a lighter-than-air balloon and releasing the balloonfrom the tank.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention may be readilyascertained by referring to the following description and appendedillustrations in which:

FIG. l is a schematic perspective view of the signal or rescue balloonof the invention in use;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a rescue balloon kit shown inclosed position;

FIG. 3 is a partially cut away view of the device of FIG. 2 showing thearrangement of a folded rescue balloon and the filling and releasemechanism therein;

FIG. 4 is a partial detailed view of the valve seal arrangement of theinvention showing the break away seal arrangement;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged -detailed view of the balloon lilling valvemechanism -between the tank and the balloon;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detailed view of a filled balloon releasemechanism and its detachment from the tank following ination of aninflatable balloon;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a tank valve seal according to theinvention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the seal of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the seal of FIG. 7 in broken and movedaway position from the valve stem on which it normally resides; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the mechanism of FIG. 5, shown insection.

As illustrated in FIG. l, a hiker 1 lost in the woods 2 has released asignal or rescue balloon 3 which floats above surrounding ltrees so thatit is visible from a distance. The balloon may be marked with brightcolors to attract attention and to be visible from long distances. Asshown the tank 10 of the rescue balloon may be handheld, or it may beplaced on the ground as the buoyancy of the balloon is not sufficient toraise the tank into the air. Thus even lying on the ground the balloonwill be anchored in a single spot for rescue.

A dished head cylindrical tank 10, preferably of aluminum or otherlightweight metal, provides means for containing a supply oflighter-than-air gas, preferably helium. The helium tank is providedwith a threaded valve, shown in general by numeral 12, which fits bymeans of threads 14 into a threaded opening into the tank. The valve isprovided with a hexagonal section 16 for manipulating the valve, and anO-ring'seal 18, of suitable material, between section 16 and the tankprovides a gas tight seal. Internally of the valve body is a passage 20,shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 10, in which is seated a valve seat 22 retainedin place by pronged washer 23 which is biased into the passage with aspring action with the prong ends biting into the wall of the valve bodyto positively hold the valve seat against shoulder 21. The valve may,also, be seated against an O-ring seal mounted against shoulder 21 wheredesired. A small passageway 24 extends from the shoulder 21 above thepassage 20 and provides means for accommodating an elongated extension25 of the valve 22. The valve 12 is threaded into another valve,indicated in general by numeral 26, by means of a threaded upper end 27into a threaded passage 28 of the valve 26. Extending into the threadedopening 2S is an extension tube 29 fitted in passage 30 in the valve 26.A body portion 32 surrounding the threaded passage 28 reduces to anarrow frangible neck 33 between the enlarged por-tion 32 and an upperenlarged portion 35. In one form the valve may be made of material whichis frangible in thin section, such as frangible plastic, or the like, ora frangible thin section 33 may be sealed to both of the parts 32 and 35which may be metal, for example. The passage extends from tube 29 to acheck valve including a ball 37 which seats on the shoulder of thepassage 3G and is held securely in place by a spring 38. An aperturedplate 40 covers the top of the valve and retains the spring in positionand provides for passage of gas therefrom. The valve 26 is preferablymade of a lightweight plastic, so that the neck 33 is frangible and maybe broken by a relatively light pressure applied sideways on the body 35while the body 32 is being held.

The upper body 35 has a groove 42 extending therelaround into which theneck of an inatable balloon may be placed and a ring clamp 44thereoversecures the balloon on the valve portion 35. The balloon 37 ispreferably made of nylon or `a similar resilientplastic, which when theballoon is filled with the gas it seats tightly against the shoulder ofthe passage 30 under the inuence of the pressurized gas as well as thespring 3S. A spindle 52 is securely attached to the body portion 32 anda spool 53 is rotatably mounted thereon. The spindle 52 is provided witha head 55 to prevent the removal of the spool. A monofila'ment nylonline 56 (or other similar line) is wound on the spool with one end of-the line securely connected to the spool to prevent its release thereofyand the opposite or free end is attached to the ring clamp 44 on theupper valve part 35. After the balloon is filled, the upper valve partis broken away and the balloon is permitted to rise in the air. It isanchored by the line 56.

The valve 22 is opened by moving it from its seat against the shoulder21 to fill the Iballoon. This is accomplished by means of the tubeprojection 29 which extends downwardly from the passage 30 and into thepassage 28. The extension 29 contacts valve extension 25 by screwing thetank into the upper valve assembly by twisting the tank clockwisetightening the valve 12 into valve 26 and opening valve 22.

To lock the actuating valve in place, a lock is placed around threads 27between the body 32 and the hexagonal shoulder of valve 12. The lock ispreferably made of a friable plastic, in elongated form having acircular opening 61 generally centrally thereof. Scored or weakenedareas 62 and 63 are provided at the sides of the lock extending from thecircular opening t-o the edge thereof. The lock is removed by applyingpressure as by bearing down on both or one end, as shown by the arrowsin FIG. 4, to break `the lock which may then be removed. After removalof the lock, the body 32 may be screwed down onto the hexagonal shoulder16 forcing open the valve bod" 22 by means of the tube 29. The gas underpressure from the tank then pushes past ball 37 filling the balloon.When the balloon is filled the spring 38 holds the ball against the seatclosing the valve and, when released from the tank prevents leaking ofgas from the balloon.

The balloon 50 is fanfolded over the top of the valve 27, and is`retained in position by a paper or other type of bag or sleeve 66. Theentire valve and balloon assembly is enclosed in a cap 11 which fitstightly over the upper part of the tank 10. Where desired a small bag ofdehydrator, such as silica gel, may be placed inside the cover with theremainder of the mechanism to keep it dry.

A cylinder about 51/2 inches long and about 21/3 inches in diameter issatisfactory for holding sufficient helium to intiate a 36 inch balloon,The balloon should preferably be made red, yellow or orange, or othervery bright tiuorescent color for easy spotting. A -gas tight rubber orplastic inatable balloon is satisfactory for use as a signal or rescueballoon. The balloon may generally be provided with a yard line whichwill permit the balloon to float high enough above surrounding obstaclesfor good visibility at long distances. The completed package weighsapproximately a pound and a half and is easily carried in a pocket, on abelt, in a tool kit or the like.

In use, the cover 11 is removed and discarded or used as a drinking cupor the like. The tab lock 60 is broken and removed after removing theballoon sleeve. After removal of the locking tab 60 the valve is turnedso that the top of the valve 12 is seated against the O-ring 31, whichprevents the escape of hydrogen gas through the threads between the twovalve bodies. When the balloon is inflated the upper valve is broken,lreleasing the balloon. The upper valve is easily broken by curlingthree fingers around the bottom part of the plastic valve and pushingthe top portion 35 with the thumb. With about five pounds pressure athin plastic neck 33 can be easily broken by au enfeebled adult or achild.

With a nylon ball valve for the valve of a plastic balloon, actual testshave shown that such a balloon will remain inflated and floating formore than three weeks. The tank valve has been shown to h'old heliumunder pressure for more than two years. Thus the kit has a long shelflife, and the inflated balloon has a long, floating, useful life. Foruse, three very simple operations fills the balloon and releases it as asignal for aid.

While the invention has been described by reference to a particulardevice, there is no intent to limit the spirit or scope of the inventionto the precise details so set forth except as defined in t-he followingclaims.

I claim:

1. In a `complete assembly for containing and subsequently releasing arescue balloon including a single tank for storing lighter-than-air gasand a deated balloon, the improvement of valve means disposed on saidtank at said single opening inclusive of a firs-t portion having apassage therethrough in communication with said single opening and valveseat means frictionally held in said passage closing said passage, and asecond portion threadedly connected with said first portion and having apassage extending therethrough in communication with the passage in saidrst portion, and said second portion having an extending member in itspassage arranged to contact and move said valve seat means to openposition on tightening said portions together; removable seal meansmounted over exposed threads between said two portions in position toprevent tightening of said two portions together, said removable seal-arranged to be easily broken and removed to permit tightening of saidtwo portions together and thereby open said valve seat means, a checkvalve containing member mounted on said second portion having a passagein communication with the passage in said second portion; a balloonattached to said check valve containing member and in communication withsaid passage therein; a frangible connector securing said check valvecontaining member to said second portion and arranged to be easilybroken so as to sever said balloon from said valve means mounted on saidtank; spool means secured to said second portion; and an anchor lineattached at one end to said spool and to said balloon at the other endthereof.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said removable seal means is afrangible plastic seal means.

3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said seal means is an elongatedplastic member having an aperture for telescoping over the threadsbetween said two portions and includes weakened areas for facilitatingremoval.

4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein s-aid frangible connector is afrangible plastic member connecting said check Valve containing memberto said second portion.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said check Valve containing memberhas a body portion made of plastic and said connector is integraltherewith.

6. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said rst portion of said valvemeans is mounted on said tank and includes a movable valve seat -rneansfrictionally held against a shoulder in the passage therein, and saidsecond portion includes a hollow probe arranged in the passage thereofto open said valve seat means on movement of the two portions togetherand t-o conduct gas from said tank through said valve means into saidballoon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Della 285-4 Paulson 116-124.9Thomas 222-3 Wallach 222-3 Clitord 152-415 Aidlin et al. 116-112 Neely141-329 Murray 11G-124.9 Webster et al. 222-3.

LOUIS I. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner.

